DAVIS, Calif. -
Sophomore Leifa Mayers goal in the 57th minute proved to be the only scoring in a physically played contest as UC Davis defeated Cal State L.A., 1-0, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association women's soccer game at Aggie Field Friday afternoon.

With the win, UC Davis improves to 8-3-2, 6-2-2 in conference action while Cal State L.A. falls to 5-9, 3-7 in CCAA play.

Mayers goal came following a corner kick from defender Carly Broaddus who served the ball in front of the CSLA goal to on oncoming Mayers. Mayers then headed the ball past Golden Eagle keeper Alicia Parkhouse for the 1-0 lead. The goal capped a flurry of activity over the previous 10 minutes which saw both teams lose a player to red cards. Moments after a hard foul on Aggie midfielder Jacque Kocer, a fight broke out on the field involving Kocer, Golden Eagle forward Monica McAfee, and a host of players trying to play peacemaker. Following a stoppage in play in which to sort things out, the referee issued red cards to Aggie forward Amanda Medrano and Golden Eagle midfielder Shannon Smith, although neither player appeared to be involved in the fight.

With order restored, and each team minus a player, play resumed and the Aggies converted their chance just eight minutes later. While there were no other instances in the half, it was a very physical final 40 minutes as 21 second-half fouls were called, 14 on Cal State L.A.

The Golden Eagles saw their best chance to tie the game just miss as with under 10 minutes to play, midfielder Josee Busilacchi's header from the left side of the box went wide, preserving the Aggie's 1-0 lead.

UC Davis controlled play in the first half, outshooting the Golden Eagles 10-1 and keeping the ball in CSLA's end for a majority of the opening 45 minutes. Early on Aggie forward Cynthia Rail fired a shot from the right side of the box that deflected off the side post and went wide. UC Davis would have other chances, the best coming when defender Carly Broaddus sent a long ball through the defense that found Rail, who had beat the defense. As Rail went to one-time the ball, Parkhouse came charging out to block the shot.

"I'm really proud of how our players kept it together in the second half," said Aggie Head Coach MaryClaire Robinson. "It's unfortunate that it had to happen the way it did. Both players behavior was inexcusable. There is no place for that on the field and the referee did the right thing in giving them red cards. He just didn't give them to the right two people."

For the game, UC Davis outshot the Golden Eagles, 21-4, and held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks. UC Davis goalkeeper Christine Ogden recorded two saves while Parkhouse finished the day with seven.

UC Davis will next be in action on Sunday when it hosts Cal State Dominguez Hills on "Break The Record Day," in which the Aggies will be looking to set a new attendance record. Gametime is set for 12:30 p.m. at Aggie Field.